#Phillies
19-year-old pitching prospect Mick Abel just hit 99mph in his second start of the series in Fort Myers, striking out the side in the 1st inning
The
#MNTwins
are promoting OF Walker Jenkins to High-A Cedar Rapids.
The 19-year-old hit .273 with 10 XBH, 28 BB and 33 RBI in 33 games for the
@MightyMussels
(.817 OPS), reaching base in 31 of those games.
He drove in 8 runs over the last 4 games in Dunedin (highlights below)
#MNTwins
RHP Randy Dobnak just tossed a perfect inning on rehab for the FCL Twins in Fort Myers. Typical heavy sink at 92-93, mixing in changeup and slider
New addition to the
@Twins
spring training clubhouse in Fort Myers - a tribute to bench coach Mike Bell, who tragically passed away this March. Really nice touch for someone who affected the organization in so many positive ways
#MNTwins
It’s time to get back to baseball! I am so excited to have started a new, full-time job at the Minnesota Twins’ spring training complex in Fort Myers, FL.
I’ll be the PA voice for
@Twins
’ spring training, and the play-by-play broadcaster for
@MightyMussels
from May-September
#MNTwins
SS prospect Noah Miller has committed just 2 errors in 418 innings at the sport's hardest position in his first full pro season, all while posting an offensive slash line above the league average. Impressive debut for the 19-year-old from Wisconsin.
#MNTwins
LHP prospect Connor Prielipp was absolutely nasty vs Braves farmhands in Fort Myers today.
Fastball sat 93-96, paired with a devastating slider at 86-89 (3,200 RPM) and a mid-80s changeup. Lots of awkward swings.
He and Travis Adams both stretched out to 4 innings,
#MNTwins
3rd Rd pick Cade Povich worked 2 scoreless innings (3 Ks, 1 H) in his pro debut today at JetBlue Park
The Nebraska lefty has been the talk of the complex in Fort Myers - many within the Twins org are very optimistic about his future
Former
#Rays
OF prospect Thomas Milone has signed a minor league deal with the
@Yankees
. Hit .309 in 55 games with the
@StoneCrabs
in 2019, has spent parts of the last 2 seasons with Double-A
@BiscuitBaseball
. Elite defensive CF who has made strides with the bat
Alex Kirilloff lines an opposite-field home run into the bar seats in LF in Clearwater. Good-looking swing against a left-hander
EV - 98.5 mph
Angle - 28 degrees
19-year-old
#MNTwins
OF prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez is 8-for-21 with 3 HR, 7 RBI and 10 BB over his last 7 games with the
@MightyMussels
. He now leads the FSL in OPS by over 100 points. As much of a 5-tool player as I've seen at the Single-A level
#MNTwins
RHP Sonny Gray completes a successful rehab outing with the
@MightyMussels
:
3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB
(43 pitches, 28 strikes, 91.4 mph on FB)
Got dialed in with command as the game went along, fanning 3 in a row at one point
David Festa is one of the coolest stories and best human beings I've come across in the minors.
Going into his senior season in high school, his only college offer was to be a D-3 shortstop. He ended up as a walk on at Seton Hall.
Now, he's a Major League starting pitcher.
The ultimate honor. Can’t thank the executives around the league who voted on these awards enough. There are so many talented broadcasters in the
@FloridaStateLg
, so this one means a lot
Oh. My. Wander Franco just DESTROYED his first High-A home run in Fort Myers. Apparently exit velocity apparently appeared as N/A. He may have broke the system
#MNTwins
1B/OF Alex Kirilloff will begin a rehab assignment with the
@MightyMussels
in Clearwater tonight. He is slated to play 1B and bat 3rd behind Jorge Polanco
#MNTwins
OF prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez will begin a rehab assignment with the Low-A
@MightyMussels
tonight in Fort Myers.
It will be his first game action since July 8.
Some
#MNTwins
pitchers that impressed in instructs (all 19-21 yrs old):
LHP Cade Povich - velo stayed high (92-95)
RHP Marco Raya - hurt in reg. season (94-98 in instructs)
LHP Jaylen Nowlin - 90-95 with life, sharp slider
RHP David Festa - up to 97 mph with deception
#MNTwins
RHP Justin Topa will begin a rehab assignment with the
@MightyMussels
in Dunedin tonight.
Acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade in January, Topa has yet to pitch for Minnesota due to a knee injury.
Walker Jenkins will be activated ahead of this week's series in Tampa against the
@TampaTarpons
!
The
#MNTwins
2023 1st round pick was placed on the IL on April 8 with a hamstring strain and has played 9 rehab games in the FCL.
Through 36 career games, Jenkins is slashing
#MNTwins
top 2022 position player draftees Brooks Lee and Tanner Schobel are in the lineup for the FCL Twins this afternoon. About to make their professional debuts in Fort Myers
The
#MNTwins
are promoting No. 18 prospect Yasser Mercedes to the
@MightyMussels
.
The 19-year-old led the FCL Twins in 10 offensive categories, batting .331 with 6 HR and 18 SB over 51 G (.989 OPS).
Will join a loaded Fort Myers OF that already features Walker Jenkins
The
#MNTwins
have promoted INF Payton Eeles to High-A Cedar Rapids. Signed out of Indy ball on May 7, the 5-foot-7 Eeles is a plus hitter and a legitimate infield prospect.
He hit .331 with 13 XBH, 26 RBI, 23 BB and 13 SB in just 34 games with the
@MightyMussels
(.965 OPS).
Jorge Polanco will play 2B and Alex Kirilloff will start in RF for the
@MightyMussels
tonight in Clearwater, as both
#MNTwins
stars continue their rehab assignments
#Tigers
acquire good starting pitching prospect in Sawyer Gipson-Long. Fastball sits 92-95, wipeout sweeping slider and changeup that has developed nicely with
#MNTwins
. Solid return for 2 months of a middle reliever
Baseball America announced their Top 100 Prospects for 2022 today. The
#MNTwins
have 5 selections:
No. 47 - SS/OF Austin Martin
No. 82 - SS Royce Lewis
No. 85 - RHP Jordan Balazovic
No. 86 - RHP Joe Ryan
No. 90 - INF Jose Miranda
This dude is the ultimate grinder! He stole a base after midnight in the final inning of a doubleheader last week. Never takes a pitch off. Nobody more respected in the
@StoneCrabs
clubhouse. Don't ever bet against Jim Haley!
@milbgrinders
#RaysUp
#MNTwins
2023 draft picks Luke Keaschall (2nd Round) and Jay Harry (6th Round) have been assigned to the
@MightyMussels
and will make their Single-A debuts in Dunedin tonight.
Keaschall signed for $1.5 M, tied for the 3rd largest bonus in the class. He goes straight into the
Some positive news regarding 3 legitimate
#MNTwins
starting pitching prospects:
RHP Sean Mooney promoted to
@CRKernels
RHP Regi Grace reinstated from IL
LHP Cade Povich promoted to
@MightyMussels
Povich becomes the 1st pitcher from '21 draft class on full season roster
#Rays
pitching prospect Shane McClanahan (
@Sugar_ShaneM
) has been promoted to Double-A Montgomery. The hard-throwing lefty stuck out 59 batters in 49.1 innings for the
@StoneCrabs
, working to a 1.46 ERA and a .183 opponents' average. Made his homecoming to Florida a quick one
The
#MNTwins
have assigned 2022 draft picks Tanner Schobel (2nd Round - Va Tech) and Jorel Ortega (6th Round - Tennessee) to the
@MightyMussels
roster. They will both make their Florida State League debuts tonight in Jupiter
The
#MNTwins
are adding 1st round pick Kaelen Culpepper to the
@MightyMussels
roster today.
He will make his Low-A debut this weekend in Jupiter, with his Hammond Stadium debut scheduled for Tuesday.
📸 Credit: William Parmeter
The
#MNTwins
2024 draft picks absolutely RAKED in their debuts last night in Jupiter.
Here are all 10 of their hits with my calls as heard on the
@MightyMussels
Baseball Network.
(Did my best editing with only 5-second CF clips available in Jupiter)
#Mets
outfielder Brandon Nimmo (
@You_Found_Nimmo
) in the lineup and serving as the DH for the St. Lucie Mets in tonight's 6:30 p.m. playoff race showdown in Port Charlotte
#MNTwins
rehabber Brooks Lee went 2-for-4 with a walk as the DH for the
@MightyMussels
tonight.
Got to hit from both sides of the plate, which he said was a key to completing his rehab assignment.
The
@RaysBaseball
farm system has climbed 35.5 games and 42 percentage points ahead of the 29 other MLB orgs:
1 - Tampa Bay 512-340 (.601)
2 - St. Louis 477-376 (.559)
3 - Houston 400-317 (.558)
Very likely that the top 6 affiliates all qualify for the postseason
#RaysUp
Fun to dream about a future Rays lineup of:
1B - Jake Bauers
2B - Daniel Robertson (B. Lowe, Wong close)
SS - Willy Adames
3B - Matt Duffy (Arroyo)
OF - Austin Meadows
OF - Kevin Kiermaier
OF - Tommy Pham
Young, controllable, athletic ballplayers ^
#RaysUp
David Bote couldn't sniff the field in A-ball for the first half of 2016. The only one who believed in him was himself. This is him hitting a walk-off grand slam at Wrigley Field in 2018. Couldn't be happier for one of the best dudes I've had the pleasure to get to know
The
#MNTwins
are assigning four of their top six 2024 draft picks to the Low-A
@MightyMussels
roster today!
SS Kyle DeBarge - 1C Round (33rd Overall)
3B Billy Amick - 2nd Round
C Khadim Diaw - 3rd Round
C/OF Jaime Ferrer - 4th Round
All four will likely make their Low-A debuts
Introducing the newest member of the Fort Myers
@MightyMussels
,
#MNTwins
OF prospect Walker Jenkins.
Jenkins will get his first start on Thursday at Hammond Stadium against the
@daytonatortugas
#MNTwins
infield prospect Brooks Lee is slated to begin a rehab assignment in Fort Myers with the
@MightyMussels
tonight.
He will be batting 2nd and playing SS against
@The_Marauders
at Hammond Stadium.
A fantastic finish to a phenomenal season for
#MNTwins
prospect
@LouieVarland
in Peoria last night. 11 Ks over 6 innings. Should be a Top-15 prospect going into 2022, with a legit chance to crack the MLB rotation in 2023
Season: 10-4, 2.10 ERA, 142 K in 103 IP (1.09 WHIP)
Former
#Padres
starter and
#MNTwins
RHP Chris Paddack to rehab tonight in Fort Myers.
It will be his first official outing since May 8, 2022. Expected to throw 3 innings per
@dohyoungpark
🚨 REHAB ALERT 🚨
#MNTwins
RHP Chris Paddack will start for us at Hammond Stadium tonight against
@The_Marauders
! First pitch is scheduled for 7pm!
#MusselUp
🎟➡️
Matt Duffy's rehab at bats today:
1st - Triple to the right field corner, run
3rd - Strikeout swinging
5th - Line drive single up the middle
7th - Rocket solo home run to left
3-4, 3 Run Scored, double away from cycle
#ClawsUp
Some Connor Prielipp whiffs from tonight's outing in Clearwater
2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K (26 pitches, 17 strikes)
FB averaged 94.6 mph and topped out at 95.6
Got at least 2 whiffs with all 3 pitch types
Huge step forward for the
#MNTwins
2nd round pick In 2022
Thank you to everyone who reached out to offer support today.
Looks like the free agent market for announcers just got a little deeper.
The next chapter will be the best one yet
#LongLiveTheCrabs
🦀 💪🏼
#MNTwins
2023 draft picks Luke Keaschall (2nd Round), Brandon Winokur (3rd Round) and Jay Harry (6th Round) are all making their pro debuts with the FCL Twins this afternoon at CoolToday Park in North Port.
The FCL Twins play at JetBlue Park (Fort Myers) tomorrow at 12pm
Cade Povich also looked great today:
3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K, 1 BB
His curveball got some ooh’s and ah’s out of the Twins fans in attendance.
#MNTwins
3rd rounder out of Nebraska fanned 19 in 10 pro innings last summer. Good chance to be a big riser on prospect lists in 2022
The
#MNTwins
are promoting C Poncho Ruiz (
@PonchoRuiz8
) to High-A
@CRKernels
. The 2023 undrafted free agent has broken out into a legitimate catching prospect in 2024.
The
@AztecBaseball
product batted .265/.367/.395 with a team-high 21 doubles in 71 games. He's earned high
Aaron Sabato (
@SabatoAaron
) has officially broken out! After 10 days of rest, the
#MNTwins
first-round pick has hit two absolute tanks in today's doubleheader:
Game 1 - Oppo to RF
EV - 109 mph
Distance - 415 ft
Game 2 - Over the batter's eye in CF
EV - 110 mph
Distance - 446 ft
For those who doubt the future of
@RaysBaseball
, know that the organization's farm teams boast the best combined record (237-170) in baseball by a full 11 games over the
@Cardinals
and
@astros
. Been told by scouts that it's also the best top-to-bottom system of prospects, too
Things are happening in Fort Myers!
Twins Fantasy Camp is already a week in and prospects are here for some early season mini camps!
Left to Right: C Pat Winkel, INF Jake Rucker, INF Jay Harry and OF Walker Jenkins
#MNTwins
RHP Jorge Alcala looked outstanding in his rehab outing with the
@MightyMussels
tonight. Fastball averaged 97.7 and topped out at 99.1.
Mixed in 6 sliders and 2 changeups. 1 inning of work (19 pitches). Slated to make 1 more outing with Fort Myers
It took Walker Jenkins (
@WalkerJenkins6
) all of 2 games to get comfortable at the Low-A level.
At just 18 years old, he delivered the tying and winning RBIs to sink the Daytona Tortugas tonight.
My calls:
#MNTwins
2019 first-round pick Keoni Cavaco has turned the corner in a major way for the
@MightyMussels
, batting .316 while collecting 7 XBH in his past 14 games (.922 OPS).
Has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields after 83 games with a .578 OPS in Low-A
#MusselUp
These 3 former
#DirtyTerps
🐢 can’t wait to root on
@TerpsBaseball
from Fort Myers, Florida! Great to have Ben Cowles (2021 SS) and
@kmartir32
(2014 + 2015 Super Regional catcher) in town for the Tarpons-Mussels series this weekend
#MarylandPride
New strike zone going into effect for robo ump games in the Low-A Southeast today. After much research and feedback, MLB is widening the zone by 4 full inches (2 on each side of plate), while shaving roughly 3.5 inches off the top
#MNTwins
prospect Austin Martin will begin a rehab assignment with the
@MightyMussels
tonight.
First pitch at Hammond Stadium is slated for 7pm.
#MusselUp
#MNTwins
OF Trevor Larnach has been added to the Fort Myers
@MightyMussels
roster and will begin a rehab assignment at 6:30 ET tonight in Clearwater.
Larnach was placed on the AAA injured list on March 29 with turf toe.
#MNTwins
RHP Randy Dobnak (32 pitches, 24 strikes) completes a very successful rehab outing in Dunedin tonight, striking out 5 of the 9 batters he faced over 3 perfect innings.
Sinker sitting 90-93. Got 4 of the 5 strikeouts on sliders
#MNTwins
RHP prospect Andrew Morris has been promoted from Low-A Fort Myers to High-A Cedar Rapids after another dominant outing on Saturday.
Should warrant Top-30 consideration - mid-90s heater with wipeout slider and new splitter. Joins an already-talented
@CRKernels
rotation
#Marlins
prospect Sixto Sanchez sitting 96-99 in his return from 11 months worth of injuries. Slider and change both 88-90 and very sharp.
@StoneCrabs
rally for 2 in the 1st, but Sixto's stuff is there
Spent my Big League debut with a little leaguer 😂 Can’t wait for next week’s series at the Trop! Shoutout to
@willvrag
for this sick action shot
#RaysUp
No prospect page is going to post Maddux Houghton (
@MadduxHoughton
) highlights, so I will!
The
@BisonBaseball
product is 10-for-19 to begin the season with 5 XBH, 9 RBI, 5 BB and 3 SB in 6 starts for the
@MightyMussels
(1.547 OPS).
Not pictured - Elite defense and baserunning
Jermaine Palacios becomes the 4th 2-way player in the
#Rays
system tonight. The infielder moves to the mound, pumping 95-96 mph fastballs in a scoreless inning against Daytona
The Minnesota Twins have assigned 1B/3B Rafael Cruz to the
@MightyMussels
, where he will make his Single-A debut at Hammond Stadium tonight.
Rafael is the younger brother of the Pirates' Oneil Cruz and is ranked as the
#MNTwins
' No. 24 prospect by
@MLBPipeline
Here is a photo of
#MNTwins
prospect Charlee Soto throwing a baseball off a mound in 80 degree weather in Fort Myers today.
Hopefully this makes you all feel warmer and more excited about baseball. Actual exhibition games will be taking place in 27 days
The first 2 pitchers from the
#MNTwins
2024 draft class are being added to the
@MightyMussels
roster today:
RHP Logan Whitaker - NC State (19th Round)
RHP Christian Becerra - Cal (12th Round)
Couldn't be more excited for the first ever
@MightyMussels
video broadcast tomorrow night!
Our amazing broadcast team has been working hard to make sure everything looks sharp when we hit the air at 7pm sharp.
Andrew Pawling, Patterson Fallis, Hannah Jo Groves, and I will join
We are so excited to transition from radio to TV this season!!
Thanks to our partners in Minnesota and with Visua/VirtCh, Mussels fans can enjoy a 7-camera shoot, complete with a graphics package, instant replay and video cut-ins.
Only 76 days until Mussels TV goes LIVE from
Who's ready to WATCH the Mussels in 2024?!
For the first time, live video broadcasts will be available to stream on all of MLB's dedicated platforms!
Read more about how you can stream the Mussels and still watch and listen for free! 🎥
📰➡️
A pitching matchup worth waking up for this morning -
#Rays
LHP Brendan McKay vs
#Braves
RHP Ian Anderson. Pair of top-50 prospects in the sport facing off at 11 a.m. in Kissimmee
#ProspectShowdown
Nate Lowe is one of the most pure hitters I had the privilege to watch RAKE over 103 games with the
@StoneCrabs
. Worked hard during 2017-18 offseason to re-distribute weight and get into great baseball shape. Will hit with power to all fields for a LONG time in the Bigs
#RaysUp
#Rays
promoting 1B Nate Lowe, their minor-league player of the year last season, source tells The Athletic. Batting .300 with .987 OPS at Triple A. No word yet on corresponding move.
Jorge Alcala averaged 97.5 mph on 6 fastballs in his rehab outing for the
@MightyMussels
tonight. Made quick work of Bradenton - 2 Ks on just 12 pitches
Anthony Banda completes his first rehab outing for the
@StoneCrabs
since June 14, 218 TJ sugery:
1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K (25 pitches, 18 strikes)
Fastball sitting 92-93 mph
#MNTwins
2nd round pick Luke Keaschall (
@LKeaschall
) has been promoted to High-A
@CRKernels
.
In just 20 games with the Low-A
@MightyMussels
, Keaschall posted an .898 OPS, finishing with 8 2B, 8 SB and 15 walks. Great athlete with a loud bat who should move fast
#MNTwins
RHP Ronny Henriquez will begin a Major League rehab assignment with the
@MightyMussels
tonight. Henriquez was placed on the 15-day IL on March 30 with elbow inflammation
The
@MightyMussels
have announced their starting pitching rotation for the season-opening series against the
@TampaTarpons
at Hammond Stadium:
Fri - LHP Ross Dunn
Sat - RHP Charlee Soto
Sun - RHP Tanner Hall
All 3 will be making their professional debuts.
The
#Rays
farm system continues to dominate the rest of baseball in wins and losses, now a full 26 games ahead of everyone else:
1. Tampa Bay 359-240 (.599)
2. Houston 296-229 (.564)
3. St. Louis 334-265 (.558)
4. Philadelphia 317-277 (.534)